BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- Senior guard Travis Bianco put together a complete game for Bemidji State University men's basketball with a team-high 21 points and eight rebounds Saturday night which wasn't enough in an 83-68 loss to Northern State University. The Beavers fall to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference following its final home games of the 2021 calendar year.

Bemidji State opened scoring off a jumper from sophomore forward John Sutherland for a quick 2-0 lead. NSU followed with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 6-2 lead before BSU tied the game twice over the next two minutes. The Wolves answered with a 12-4 run, putting up twice as many shots as the Beavers over a five-minute span.

The Beavers pulled within two points after an 8-0 run but saw the Wolves go on another run, this time of 10-0 including two 3-pointers, for the final separation of the game. NSU held a 32-20 lead before Bianco hit two of his four 3-pointers on the day to pull BSU within nine at halftime, 41-32.

The Wolves opened the second half with four straight points for a 13-point lead, its largest of the game to that point. The Beavers battled to within 10 points again, 59-49, before a final 10-0 run by the Wolves sealed the game.

Bemidji State shot 44.9 percent from the field (22-49) and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc (8-20) compared to 48.4 percent from the floor (30-62) and 41.0 percent from 3-point range (16-39). BSU gave away a season-high 20 turnovers that led to 23 points for NSU.

Bemidji State's calendar year will come to an end Dec. 17-18 with a road trip to face the University of Mary and Minot State University.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).

Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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